Cigarette-wrapping machine and method



June 12. 1928. 1,673,524

w. E. MOLINS CIGARETTE WRAPPING MACHINE AND METHOD Filed March 13. 1926/N VE N TOR Patented June 12, 1928.

PATENT OFFICE.

WALTER EVERETT MOLINS, OF

DEPTFORD, LQNDON, ENGLAND.

CIGABETTE'WRAPPING MACHINE AND METHOD.

Application filed March 13, 1926, Serial No.

This invention is for improvements in or relating to a method and meansfor wrapping cigarettes and packets of cigarettes and more particularlyto a method and means for sealing the open end of a block ended wrapperadapted to envelop a batch of cigarettes of a packet of the slide andshell type, and has for one of its objects the provision of a devicewhich will ensure that the open end 10 of the block ended wrapper issealed so as to render the wrapper substantially airtight, therebyeffectively protecting the contents of the packet against the action ofthe atmosphere and enables cigarettes to retain the required amount ofmoisture for a considerable time.

It has hitherto been found that a good seal may be effected along thesides of a glascine wrapper, but that considerable diiliculty isexperienced in effectively and neatly closing and sealing the open endof the same. This diificulty is due to a considerable extent to theslide of the packet being invariably made shorter than the shell,thereby leaving at the open end of the packet a shallow depressionagainst which the side tucks and end folds are pressed, therebyrendering the effective sealing of the open end of the wrapperimpossible.

According to the present invention there is provided a method of sealingthe open end of a block ended wrapper which envelops a packet of theslide and shell type which comprises (a) Tucking and folding the openend of a wrapper; and

(b) Maintaining the slide flush with the shell at the open end of thewrapper as the side tucks and end foldsare being pressed, preferablywith the aid of heat, upon the adjacent end of the packet.

Further the present invention consists of a device for sealing the openend of a block ended wrapper which envelops a packet of the slide andshell type wherein means (for example a lip formed upon an upwardlymovable platform) are adapted to locate the shell of a slide and shellpacket and permit one end of the slide to be brought flush with theshell at the open end of the wrapper.

Again the present invention consists of a method of sealing the open endof a blockended wrapper which envelops a batch of cigarettes whichcomprises (a) Folding one end flap of the wrapper, and

94,484, and in Great Britain April 28, 1925.

(b) Pressing said flap against the end surface of the contents of thewrapper prior to the other flap being folded and pressed thereon.

Further the present invention consists of a device for sealing the openend of a blockended wrapper which envelops a batch of cigarettes whichcomprises means (for example a lip formed upon an upwardly movableplatform) adapted to fold one end flap of the wrapper and means adaptedto press said flap against the end surface of the contents of thewrapper prior to the other flap being folded and pressed thereon.

The invention is more particularly described with reference to theaccompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 illustrates one method of carryingthe invention into effect; and

Fig. 2 is an enlarged view which illustrates the manner in which one endof the slide is brought flush with the corresponding end of the enveloing shell.

Referring to the drawings, 1 comprises a packet of the slide and shelltype which has been partly enveloped in an outer wrapper composed ofglascine. The said wrapper has been folded about the packet so as toconstitute a block ended wrapper open at one end. The block endedwrapper is formed about the said packet, preferably by means of themechanism described in m British Patent No. 165,891. After a bloc endedWrapper open at one end has been formed about the said packet, the sameis moved by means of side tuckers (not shown) into a position directlyabove a movable platform 2. The side tuckers are preferably constructedin the manner described in my Brit. Patent Specification No. 214,792,although it will be appreciated that packets may be advanced into thesaid position in any desired manner. The wrapper so formed about thepacket is provided with two longitudinally extendin flaps 3 and 4. Whenthe packet has been rought to rest above the platform 2 the same ismoved upwardly by means of a bell crank lever 5 operated by the cam. 6such that a lip 7 formed on the platform 2 engages with the lower fiap 4of the wrapper and tucks the same against the end face of the packet. Asthe platform continues its upward movement the upper flap 3 engages withthe lower edge of a heating element 8, which tucks the said upper flat 3down upon the lower flap 4 of the packet which-has already been gummedin any desired manner.

As the platform moves upwardly a lever 9 pivoted to the bed of themachine at 10 engages with the block end of the wrapper, as illustratedin Fig. 2. The shell is secured against longitudinal movement by meansof the lip 7 and consequently as the packet 1, enveloped in the wrapper,moves into the stacker the slide is moved longitudinally in the shelluntil the end of the slide is brought flush with the end of the shell,whereupon the heater 8 of the stacker irons the side tucks and end foldsof the wrapper upon the flush end of the packet.

The pivoted lever 9 is preferably provided with a projection 11 whlch,as the platform 2 rises, engages with an arm 12 and moves the back wall13 of the stacker out of engagement with the packet 1 so as to permitthe same to be easily moved into the stacker. As the moving platform 2descends the projection 11 upon the lever 9 releases the side wall 13and the brushes formed thereon grip the packet and maintains the samewithin the stacker.

Thus it will be seen that according to the present invention means areprovided whereby the open end of a glascine wrapper is ironed upon theflush end of a slide and shell packet so as to produce a neat andeffective seal to the wrapper enveloping the packet.

It has been found in practice that the seal produced by the devicehereinbefore described is so effective that considerable difficulty isexperienced in removing the wrapper from the packet. It has been foundadvisable to provide means whereby the wrapper may be easil removed fromthe packet when it is desire to open the same.

To accomplish this purpose it is proposed, according to the presentinvention, to form the upper flap 3 of a longer length than the lowerflap 4, such that the end of the flap 3 extends over the side of thepacket and may be easily gripped when it is desired to remove the outerwrapper. By providing simple and eflicient means of this character thenecessity of providing strips of thread and like contrivances by whichthe wrapper may be removed is obviated.

This invention has been described with reference to a packet of theslide and shell type enveloped in a wrapper of glascine but it is to beunderstood that the invention is equally applicable to a batch ofcigarettes enveloped 1n a block ended wrapper. With cigarettes so packedthe lip on the platform 2 folds the lower flap upwardly, whereupon thepivoted lever moves the packet forward and presses the lower flapthrough the medium of the cigarettes against the lip of the platform.The packet is thereafter moved Into the stacker and the u per flappressed smoothly upon the lower ap, thus producing a neat finish to theblock ended packet. The upper flap may be provided with an extension forthe easy removal of the wrapper.

What I claim as m invention and desire to secure by Letters atent is 1.A device for sealing the o 11 end of a block ended wrapper arrange toenvelo a packet of the slide and shell type, whic comprises a pusherpiece operable automatically to move the slide relatively to the shelland means for locating the shell as the slide is moved relativelythereto.

2. A device for sealing the open end of a block ended wrapper whichenvelope a packet of the slide and shell type which comprises incombination an u wardly movable platform having a lip ormed thereonadapted to secure the shell against longitudlnal movement in onedirection and a pivoted lever adapted to push the slide of the packetduring the upward movement of the platform and move the slide into aposition such that the end adjacent to the open end of the wrapper liesflush with the corresponding and of the shell.

3. A cigarette packin machine of the type operable to envelop pac ets ofthe slide and shell type in an outer wrapper which comprises a pusherpiece 0 erable automatically to move the slide relatively to the shelland means operable to locate the shell of the packet as the slide isbrought flush with that end of the shell which lies adjacent to the openend of the wrapper.

4. A cigarette packing machine of the type operable to envelop packetsof the slide and shell type in an outer wrapper which comprises anupwardly movable platform adapted to move a packet enveloped in a blockended wrapper into a stacker, a lip arranged upon said movable platformso as to locate the shell of the packet, and a pusher piece operable tomove the slide relatively to the shell so as to bring the same flushwith that end of the shell located adjacent to the open end of the wraper.

5. A cigarette packing machine of the type operable to envelop packetsof the slide and shell type in an outer wrapper which comprises amovable platform provided with a lip adapted to secure the shell againstlongitudinal movement in one direction and a pivoted lever adapted toengage with the slide of the packet during the upward movement of theplatform so as to move the same into a positlon flush with the end ofthe shell located adjacent to the open end of the wrapper.

6. The method of sealing the open end of a block ended wrapper whichenvelops a packet of the slide and shell type, which comprises, tuckingand folding the open end of the wrapper, thereby forming s ide tucks andend folds, and holding the slide flush with the shell at the open end ofthe wrapper, and pressing the side tucks and end folds upon the adjacentend of the packet.

7. The method of sealing the .open end of a block ended wrapper whichenvelops a packet of the slide and shell" type, which comprises, tuckingand folding the open end of t e wrapper forming side tucks and endfolds, and holding the slide flush with the shell at the open end of thewrap er, and pressing the side tucks and end fo ds upon the adjacent endof the acket and simultaneously heating the side tucks and end folds.

8. In a cigarette packing machine of the type wherein a conveyor isadapted to movethe slide and shell packets through wrapping mechanism soas to envelop the same in a block ended wrapper open at one end andwherein means are provided to move the wrapped packets at a speedgreater than the linear speed of the conveyor into a stationary positionwhere the upper and lower broad end flaps of the open end of the wrapperare folded, means adapted to locate the shell of the acket and securethe same against longitu inal movement, and means adapted to move theslide relatively to the shell and bring the same flush with the shell atthat end thereof which is adjacent to the open end of the wrapper.

9. In a cigarette packing machine of the type wherein a conveyor isadapted to move slide and shell packets through wrapping mechanism so asto envelop each packet in a block ended wrapper open at one end andwherein means are prov1ded to move each packet at a. speed greater thanthe linear speed of the conveyor into a stationary position, an upwardlymovable platform adapted to receive each packet and secure the shellagainst longitudinal movement in one direction and a pivoted leveradapted to engage with the slide of the acket so as to move the sameflush with t at end of the shell which lies adjacent to the open end ofthe wrapper.

10'. The method of sealing the open end of a block ended wrapper whichenvelops a packet of the slide and shell type, which comprises movingthe slide relatively to the shell and toward the open end of the wrapperso that the slide and shell are flush at that end, and pressing the freeends of the wrapper upon the adjacent end of the packet.

11. The method of sealin the open end of a block ended wrapper w ichenvelops a packet of the slide and shell type, which comprises movingthe slide relatively to the shell and toward the open end of the wrapperso that the slide and shell are flush at that end, tucking and foldingthe open end of the wrapper, thereby forming side tucks and end folds,and pressing the side tucks and end folds upon the adjacent end of thepacket.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aifi mysignature.

WALTER EVERETT MOLINS.

